Link: Pursell on Early Days in Preaching

Sam Pursell is a friend. He was once a kid in the Youth Group that I used to pastor. So I've known him since he was in Year 7 (Middle School for my US readers). He is now in ministry, training at Roseville East to spend a lifetime preaching Christ. He writes over at On The Way.

Today he writes an honest post on preaching -- a reflection that took me back to 1989. He writes how hard it is to preach:

Why is preaching so hard? I hardly get nervous about anything in my life, but the prospect of presenting the gospel in front of more than 8 people can twist my stomach like a wet sponge being wrung out? How can I listen back to my sermon and be bored at the sound of my own voice? Why does a pulpit make my arms stop acting naturally and instead move like a robot in a game of charades?

I totally remember this. I still have fear when preaching, but not like I did 20 years ago. 20 years ago I would hope, for a whole week beforehand, that the ground would open up and take me away. I found preaching harder than exams. Much harder.

But then Sam applies these thoughts to the Bible, in a way that makes me think that I need to continue to feel like I did in 1989. Treasure in Jars of Clay.

Indeed.

Good work. 

Take a look HERE.

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Pic on Flickr by johnontwowhells.

Link: Earngey on New Calvinism, Jelly and why Mark Driscoll would have been rejected in Geneva.

My virtual friend Mark Earngey (I don't believe we've met in person) writes over at 'Seeing in a Mirror Dimly'. Mark is a Moore College student, and his Blog is a very thoughtful and generous one. Check it out. He's even asking 'What makes a good Blog'?

Mark reflects on the New Calvinism, liking it to a kind of Jelly.

There's a certain slipperiness and jelly-like quality to what's being called The New Calvinism. Terms like Reformed and Calvinist are wobbling around like they've been served up for dessert. But is this a bad thing?

Some good reflections and quotes there. And even a quote on why Mark Driscoll would have been rejected in St Peter’s in Calvin’s Geneva. There is even a suggestion for the way forward.

Read it HERE.

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Pic on Flickr by :Bron:.

Link: Duncan Andrews on Reading the Bible

My friend Duncan Andrews writes over at Moments Now and Then. 

Here is the final verse of a poem Dunc wrote on his experience of reading the Bible:

And yet such joy! For I set myself
to love you more, to love you best;
but when my love stayed on the shelf,
dusty, weak, I heard ‘Child, rest.
It’s you loved best;
in my love you are blest.

You can read it all on HERE.

What is your experience of reading the Bible? Does it move you to write poetry?

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Pic on Flickr by MiraM.

Raw Insight 2

I've linked to HER WORK before: HERE. Brilliant.

"We are all Going to Hell": Raw insight.

I wish that this hadn't made me laugh (Click on Pic for the artist). If I hadn't laughed, I might have cried. I wish I knew which response to give. Either way, this chart is full of raw insight (and I say that like there is another kind). Not least of which is its title: "We are all going to Hell".

I am reminded of this verse from the Apostle Paul:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

I highly recommend subscribe to ‘www.indexed.blogspot.com’. My other favourite: